Story

People keep asking me why I’m doing 21 days of 21 kilometres. A half marathon every day. No rest days. No shortcuts. The simple answer is: because I can. The real answer is: because Rachel couldn’t. Running has always been where I make sense of things. When life gets noisy, when answers aren’t obvious, I lace up and put one foot in front of the other. This challenge isn’t about chasing times, medals, or proving anything to anyone. It’s about purpose. In Rachel’s final months, when everything felt uncertain and heavy, the Dougie Mac Hospice in Stoke‑on‑Trent were there. Not just with care, but with compassion, dignity, and humanity. They didn’t just support Rachel they supported all of us who were walking alongside her, trying to be strong while quietly falling apart. Hospice care isn’t loud. It doesn’t shout about what it does. It shows up every day, quietly doing the hardest work imaginable, helping people live fully right up to the end. That kind of support leaves a mark on you. It stays with you. So this challenge is my way of giving something back. Every morning for 21 days, I’ll head out and run a half marathon. Some days will feel strong. Some days will hurt. Some days I’ll question why I signed up for something this big. But every kilometre has meaning. Every step is intentional. When my legs are tired, I’ll remind myself that discomfort is temporary but the impact of care like Dougie Mac’s lasts far longer. When motivation dips, I’ll think of Rachel. Of her strength. Of the people who made her final months more comfortable, more peaceful, more dignified. This isn’t about suffering for the sake of it. It’s about using something I love — running — to support something that truly matters. If my 21 days of running can help fund even a small part of the care that Rachel received, then every early start, every sore muscle, every tough mile is worth it. And I’m running so that other families can receive the same care when they need it most.